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BURBANK (CBSLA.com) — Parents reacted Monday after a Burbank elementary school teacher was accused of assisting students with state standardized tests.

A third grade student reported to the principal last week that a male teacher at McKinley Elementary School was improperly helping students with the “STAR tests”.

School officials quickly investigated the claim and the findings were forwarded to state officials.

“What he did was assist them, not give the kids answers, but assist and the fact is that’s a test irregularity,” Superintendent Dr. Jan Britz said.

Parents received a letter on Friday informing them of the alleged incident.

“I’m somewhat shocked. I mean I’m not sure all the details but if something like that is happening, it’s unfair,” concerned parent Steven Suarez said.

Charles Zamudio, who has a second grader at the school, says the situation disappoints him.

“It’s really meat and potatoes. Cheating is cheating, no matter how u look at it,” he said.

In a statement released by Burbank’s District Office, a spokesperson says in part:

“…The California Department of Education confirmed that it was likely that a testing irregularity occurred. The first consequence is that the scores for the students in the classroom will be invalidated…”

The teacher is now on paid administrative leave, and a substitute teacher has been hired for the rest of the school year.